Voting-machine.



no. 660,9la.

C. H. OCUMPAUGH.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application lod Ot. 1, 1900.)

(lo Modal.)

Patented Oct. 30, |900.

H1 Miti Tn: nomma rcrsns co. woraumo.. wAsnmoToN, n. c.

No. 660,9!8. Patented 0st. 30,' |900.

' C. H. UCUMPAUGH.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Applicntion led Oct 1, 1900.) (No Model- 2 shets-sheat z.

.W MNH UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGHQOF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

voTlNe-t/lAoi-HNE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,918, dated October30, 1900.

Application filed October l, 1900. Serial No. 31,632. (No model.)

To mit whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES HERBERT OCUMPAUGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Rochester, in the State of New York, have inventedcertain Improvement-s in Voting-Machines, of which the following is aspecication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates io certain improvements in votingmachines, whichimprovements are fully described and illustrated in the followingspecification andthe accompanying drawings, the novel features thereofbeing specified in the claims annexed to the said specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a front elevation of a p'ortionofthe face-plate of a Voting-niachineen'l bodying my in veution, showingthe irregular cover closed. Fig. 2 is a partial View of the saine,showing the irregular cover open and the pocket in the belt for theinsertion of the irregular ballot. Fig. 3 represents a split ballot.Fig. Je is a partial horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a front elevation,the face-plate being omitted. Fig. 6 represents the Web employed inmaking the belt. Fig. 7 is a front view of the belt. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section of thebelt.

A represents the face-plate, B the lever for operating the counter C,and D the irregular cover, which in the instance shown is a slide.

It will be understood that while only one counter and one irregularballoting device are shown any required number of either may be` usedand that the party-lines may be horizontal or vertical.

Any suitable counter-operating mechanism may be used. As shown, thelever B is moved horizontally tothe left and actuates the coimter by thepivoted palleted segment E and starwheel F.

G is the resetting-lever, which is operated by the election official orthe voteras he leaves the booth or the machine until the mechanism hasbeen reset.

The counter may be arranged to be read at the end of an election fromthe front or the hack of the machine. The names of a number ofcandidates are placed in View of the voter near the lever B, as shown.The counter may be operated by a push or a pull or in any usual orpreferred manner. The lever B is interlocked against the slide D, sothat both cannot be operatedsimultaneously. If the voter desires to votefor all the candidates for the particular oiiice in question, he simplyshifts the lever B to the left, and this movement operates the counter,the disks of which are geared or otherwise connected together in anysuitable or preferred manner. If, on the contrary, he desires to splithis vote or vote for some person not nominated instead oi' for one ormore of the regular nominees, he prepares a splitl ballot J,(represented in Fig. 3,) and on enteringthe machine or booth he pushesthe cover or slide D aside,thus uncovering the belt H, into one of thepockets I of which the prepared ballot (folded, it' necessary) isinserted. (See dotted lines J, Fig. 7.) The belt is rolled on the tworollers K L, and one of these rollers is operated by the resettingmechanism, so as to wind the belty upon it a sufficient distance tobring the nextv empty pocket in register with the opening through theface-plate. 'lhe slide or cover D is provided with a suitable handle P.

rlheinterlocking mechanism will be understood from Fig. 5. M and N arethe interlocking rods, one of which is arranged to be operated by theslide D, the other being operated by the lever B. O O are suitableinterlocking blocks, balls, or rollers arranged iu a suitable frame andadapted to prevent the insertion of more than one of the interlockingrods between them. The rod N may be directly pivoted ou the lever B; butou the rod M lost motion may be allowed by means of lugs Q and R.

. The resetting-lever G may be provided with a paWl engaging in aratchet on the shaft of the roll L, or any suitable intermediate gearingmay be employed, or the two rolls K and L may be driven at the samespeed by an adjustable friction driving-roll, so as to compensate forthe increase in diameter of the receiving-roll as the belt is Wound ontoit. The openings l into the pockets S in the belt H are preferablyplaced at the rear ends of the pockets. The belt is made of any suitablematerial, and it may be formed by attaching a series of suitable pocketstogether. I have used such a belt in practice. In the form shown inFigs. 6, 7, and 8 the belt is made of paper or other suitable fabricfolded IOO on the median line T after having been slit or perforated onone side of said line, as indicatedatl,tl1e free edges being then gummedtogether and the plies being also gummed transversely, indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 7.

U is a support for the belt in rear of the opening through thefaceplate. Suitable rollers are provided as guides for the belt.

V, Fig. 4, represents a cam revolving with the roll L or other suitablepart of the machine which unlocks the lever W from engagement with theslide I). The lever is provided with a spring X, which forces the pointof the lever behind the end of the slide D, so that the lever cannot bereturned.

Y is the movable resetting-bar, which is operated from the lever G bythe cam Z, through the connection Z'.

A lever similar to lever NV is used to operate in conjunction with baror rod N.

It. will be understood that various modications and alterations may bemade in the construction herein shown without departure from theprinciples thereof.

I claiml. In a voting-machine, the combination of a suitable casinghaving an aperture formed therein; an irregular balloting deviceconsisting of a belt mounted wholly Within said casing and adapted topass by said aperture, said belt having pockets formed therein for theinsertion and retention of ballots as said pockets are brought toposition in line with the aperture; and means for winding` the belt uponitself.

2. In a voting-machine, the combination of a suitable casing having anaperture therein; an irregular balloting device mounted wholly withinsaid casing, said device consisting of a traveling belt having pocketsfor the insertion and retention of ballots; and means for Winding thebelt about itself.

3. In a Voting-machine, the combination of a suitable casing having anaperture formed therein; an irregular balloting device consisting of abelt mounted Wholly Within said casing and adapted to pass by saidaperture,'

said belt having a series of equidistantlyspaced pockets formed thereinfor the insertion and retention of ballots as said pockets are broughtto position in line with the aperture; and means for Winding the beltabout itself.

4. In a voting-machine, a face-plate having a register-operating deviceon one side of its face, and a traveling belt upon the opposite side7said belt being provided with pockets for the insertion and permanentretention of ballots until they are finally counted, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a voting-machine having an apertured face-plate; a traveling beltprovided with pockets adapted to receive and retain ballots; and meanslor moving the belt past the aperture in said plate, and winding thebelt about itself.

6. In a voting-machine, the combination of aregular-vote-registeringmechanism a travcling belt having pockets forirregular ballots; and suitable interlocking mechanism, as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. In a voting-machine having an apertured face-plate; a traveling beltprovided with pockets; a regular registering mechanism; a movable slideor cover; and suitable interlocking mechanism between the register andthe cover, as and for the purpose set forth.

S. In a voting-machine, the combination of a suitable casing having anapertured faceplate; a flexibleballot-receiving belt having pocketsformed therein for the reception and retention of a ballot, said pocketsbeing open at one end only; and means for winding the belt aboutitselfafter the ballot has been deposited in the pocket. f

9. In a voting-machine, the combination of a suitable casing having anapertured faceplate; a flexible ballot receiving and retaining beltmounted wholly therein; and means for winding the belt on itself afterthe ballot has been inserted.

l0. In a voting-machine, the combination of a resetting` device andi amovable ballot-receiving belt having pockets for the reception andretention of a ballot, said belt being moved by the actuation of theresetting device by the voter.

ll. In a voting-machine, the combination of an apertured face-plate; aballot receiving and retaining belt extending past said aperture, saidbelt having covered pockets formed therein and extending parallel to theface of the plate.

l2. In avoting-machine,the combination of a suitable casing having anaperture formed therein; a belt provided With pockets and mountedwhollywithin said casing; and means for imparting a step-by-step movement tothe belt as it is wound about itself.

13. In a voting-machine,the combination of a suitable casing having anaperture formed therein; a ballotreceiving belt mounted Wholly Withinsaid casing and provided with a series of openings adapted to receiveand retain ballots; and means for imparting a step-by-step movement tosaid belt, said movement bringing an opening in the belt in registerwith the aperture.

CHARLES HERBERT OCUMIAUGII.

Witnesses:

A.. M. ZIMMER, L. J. HOMMEL.

IOO

IIO

